The reason that our cave remains at a near constant 58-degrees, regardless of outside temperature, is that this is the average year round temperature of Chattanooga. Air entering the cave quickly becomes the temperature of the surrounding rocks. Because of this, caves can be used to study global climate trends

AFTER-HOURS LANTERNS AND LEGENDS ADVENTURE

FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY!

Join us Friday and Saturday evenings through October for an exclusive look at the Caverns in their natural, un-lit state. Step back in time on this after-hours lantern lit walking adventure through the Crystal Palace. Experience the cave like explorers of years past as you delve into the interesting and sometimes spooky history and legends of Raccoon Mountain Caverns.

Reservations must be made in advance by calling (423) 821-9403 ext. 1 or via our online reservation system.

Please note: this is a walking cave tour, not a spelunking tour. Tours last approximately 1 hour and are available for guests age 5 and older. LED lanterns are provided for guest use during the tour. Tours are available at 7pm and 9pm Friday and Saturday evenings beginning September 29 and running through October. Advance payment is required and is non-refundable (tours may be rescheduled based on availability). Payments are taken over the phone; online reservation requests will be followed up with a phone call. A confirmation email will be sent after payment is received.

We were recently featured on ABC News Channel 9's Sideroads! Click the image to check the video out!

Welcome to the Raccoon Mountain Wild Cave Web site and the home of the #1 Wild Cave Adventures in the South! Raccoon Mountain Caverns is located just outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee and has been open to the public since 1931. It is a natural, limestone cavern that has been nationally recognized as being one of America’s finest caves. It is noted for its incredible variety of passageways, large waterfalls, diverse formations, abundant fossils, and spectacular scenery.

Wild cave expeditions are specialty tours that are designed to permit you to explore the vast inner portions of the cave system in the company of a skilled guide.

Raccoon Mountain Caverns began to offer these unique tours after the discovery of over 5 miles of additional passageways in the 1950’s. Word of these tours spread and demand continued to increase into the early 1970’s. By 1973, a formal wild cave program was established to train and certify guides so that these tours could be offered on a regular basis. We are proud to have been the first cave in the country to offer commercial wild cave adventure tours and remain the #1 cave in the South for them.

The wild cave portion of our cave does not have electric lights and is presented in its natural state. We take caving very seriously and emphasis is placed upon safety, ecology, and proper caving technique. Not surprisingly, our expeditions are regarded by many as being the most challenging and rigorous expeditions in this part of the country. Participants on our guided tours are required to wear helmets, lights, pads, and gloves -- all of which are provided for your use.

You will experience the challenge of a vast network of underground chambers, canyons, and tunnels requiring you to walk, crawl, and climb over, under, and through a rugged maze of varying rock formations. In the process, you will get dirty and your tour will be an exciting and unforgettable adventure with lasting memories. Caving is a group activity (we can accommodate groups from 2 to 75, depending on availability) and there is no race to complete a specific route, but rather each person helps their fellow caver through the various obstacles and passageways crafted by Mother Nature. This makes caving an exceptional sport for building confidence and self-esteem.

If you have comments or questions about our cave or our Wild Cave Expeditions, or simply need more information and want to contact us, please visit the Contact Us page. We hope you come caving with us!

This site is dedicated specifically to our Wild Cave Expeditions. We also offer guided walking tours that are suitable for all ages and skill levels. Please visit our main site raccoonmountain.com for information on walking tours, gem panning, and camping at Raccoon Mountain!